Pocket lighter



Feb. 12, 1929 1,702,121

R. S. KNAPP POCKET LIGHTER Filed March 19, 1927 l0 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

ill

EAYTJIONID E. KTNAJPE, E NEW YER-K, :33. Y.

enetrunnion.

Application filed March 19, 192?. Serial No. 178343.

This invention relates to improvements in cigar and cigarette lighters, and has particular reference to a lighter of the pocket type.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved lighter of simple and practical construction wherein the elements constituting the ignition mechanism are compactly ar ranged and conveniently disposed, so that the operator may readily manipulate the device with one hand to cause the ignition ot the ignitable element and to extinguish the same.

Another object is to arrange the friction wheel or the ignition mechanism and the normally closed swinging cover for the ignitable element so as to rotate about a common axis, and to mount a releasing member for said wheel and cover concentric to said axis.

A further object resides in providing a releasing member which extends coincident to the axis of rotation of the friction wheel, and which is movable longitudinally of said axis to release said wheel so that it can rotate under the influence of a spring connected thereto.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the :tollowing description when talren in connection with the accoinpanying drawing, which illustrates a preterrcd embodiment oi the inventive idea.

in the drawing l is a perspective view of the lighter constructed in accordance with the invention and shown in its operated position;

llig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

l is a vertical transverse section taken on the line i l of Fig; 2.

5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.

In its preferred form, the invention is shown as comprising a relatively flat casing 6 or" convenient size so that it may be carried in the pocket and which constitutes a fuel containing reservoir. The bottom 7 of the casing is provided with screw-threaded opening 8 in which plug 9 is removablymounted so that fuel may be poured into the casing when necessary.

lit will be understood, or course, that instead of simply having the liquid fuel in the casing, as indicated in Fig. 3, said casing may contain absorbent cotton or the like,

which becomes saturated with the fuel when the latter is poured through the opening 8.

The casing isfurther provided with a top closure 10, in which is removably mounted, adjacent one end. thereof, a holder 11 for retaining the upper end of an ignitable element 12, such as a wicl: usually employed for this purpose. The holder 11 projects exteriorly out of closure 10, so that the outer end of the wick 122 may be disposed and be ignited by the ignition mechanism presently to be describec.

Medially of the end oi the closure 10, the same also has mounted therein a tube 18, which projects downwardly into the casing with the outer or upper end of the tube er:- tending slightly beyond the closure. The tube is open at both ends, and its outer end is adapted to receive a pyrophoric element ll such as a flintor other suitable material capable of producing a sparlr. A constant outer pressure is maintained upon the element 14.- by means of the coil spring 15 Within the tube 13, the tension of said spring being regulated by screw 16 threaded into the inner end or the tube. The screw 16 is accessible for purposes of adjustment through the opening 8 in the bottom or the casing.

lhe top closure 10 also has secured thereto, by means of rivets 17, a supporting structure 18, the inner end of which, adjacent the center of the cover, terminates in two spaced dislrlike plates 19 and 20, the latter plate having a recess 21 in its outer face for a purpose which will presently appear. The centers of the two plates 19 and 29 are connected by a bushing 22, upon which is mounted, for to tation in both directions, a friction wheel 23. This wheel is of substantially the same diameter as the plates 19 and 20, and is provided on a portion ct its periphery with serrations 2st to term a roughened surface adaptedto contact with the outer end of the pyrophoric element l t, the serrations of the wheel being so disposed that when the latter is rotated in a clockwise -direction as viewed in Fig. 3, the rubbing of the wheel against the element is will produce a spark which will be deflected in the direction of the outer end of the wick 12 and thus ignite the same.

At a point on the wheel 28, when the same is in its normal position shown in Fig. 3

7 between the wickholder 11 and the tube 13, said wheel has secured thereto a swinging cover 25 in the form of an arm which is substantially a counterpart of the stationary support 18, and which is provided upon its inner surface with a recess 26 adapted to receive the outer end of the holder 11 and tit? I spark and uncovering the wick 12 so that it will be ignited may be produced in a single operation.

The means for rotating the friction wheel and cover 25 preferably comprises a convoluted spring 27 interposed between the wheel 24; and plate 20, the outer end of the spring 27 being fixed to-theclosure 1-0 while the inner end of said spring is provided with an extension 28 projecting into an opening formed in the friction wheel adjacent the center. When the friction wheel is in its normal position, the spring 27 is under tension, and upon release of the wheel, in the manner to be presently described, said spring expands and rapidly rotates the wheel to produce a rubbing contact with the element 14.

The means for retaining the friction Wheel and cover 25 in'normal position and for releasing said parts so as to permit of rotation thereof consists of a releasing member in the form of a pin 29 extending through the bushing 22 concentric to the axis of rotation of At the end of the pin" the friction wheel. 29, adjacent the plate 19, said pin has secured thereto a disk 30 which carries a locking pin 31 (Fig. 5) projecting inwardly through the plate 19, and having its inner end engage- "able with a recess 32 formed in the adjacent face of the friction wheel. I

When thus engaged with said wheel, the

pin 31 acts to prevent rotation of the wheel and cover. The opposite end of the pin 29 is formed with a head- 33 preferably countersunk within the recess 21 in the plate 20 and havin interposed therebetween and the bottom o saidrecess a coil spring 34 which normally exerts an outward pressure on the head 33 to retain the locking pin 32 in operative position. However, when the head 33 is depressed by the thumb to move the pin 29 and isk 3O laterally with respect to the friction wheel, or longitudinally of its axisof rota- .tion, it will be apparent that the pin 31 will As the friction wheel reaches its normal position, the recess 32 in said wheel will begin to come into alignment with the locking pin 31, whereupon the spring 34, which is then under tension, forces the pin 29 and disk 30 in the opposite direction from the movement previously described with the result that the locking pin 31 again enters the recess 32. It will, of course, be understood that the restoration of the friction wheel to normal position again places the spring 27 under'tension.

If desired, an additional or reserve pyrophoric element llmay be carried with the device by placing the same in asleeve 35, one end of. which is screw-threaded into the inner surface of the plug 9.

' What I claim is: i

1. In a cigar and cigarette lighter, a casing forming a fuel containing reservoir, an ignitable element carried by said casing, a pyrop'horicmember also carried by said casing, a friction wheel rotatable relative to said casing and contacting said pyrophoric member; means to rotate said wheel to produce a spark from said pyrophoric member to thereby ignite said ignitable element, and a releasing member extending through said wheel and having means engageable therewith to normally prevent rotation thereof, said releasing member being operable to release said means from said wheel, whereby the same will be actuated by said rotating means.

2. In a clgar and cigarette lighter, a casing forming a fuel containing reservoir, an ignit able element carried by said casing, a pyrophoric member also carried by said casing, a friction wheel rotatable relative to said casing and contacting said pyrophoric member, means to rotate said wheel to'produce a spark from sald pyrophoric member to thereby ignite said ignitable element, a releasing member extendingthrough said wheel and normally preventing rotation thereoflsaid releasing member being operable to release said avheel, whereby the same will be actuated by said rotating means, and a cover for saidignitable element carried by said friction wheel and covering said-element when said wheel is in normalposition. V

3. In a cigar and cigarette lighter, a casing forming a fuel containing reservoir, an ignitable element carried by said casing, a pyrophoric member also carried by the casing, a friction wheel rotatable relative tosaid casing and contacting said, -pyrophoric member,

f means to rotate said wheel to produce a spark from said pyrophoric member to thereby ignite said ignitable element, and a releasing -m ember pro ecting "through said wheel concentric to has axis of rotation and carrying a locking pin engageable with'said wheel to reta n the same in normal position, said re leasing member being movable from a normal wearer position longitudinally of saicl axis to disportion of sai l structure arul connectefi to engage said pin from Sillil Wheel and thereby said. wheel and casing to rotate the former, a allow the latter to be rotated by sahi rotating releasing member extending through said means. supporting structure and wheel and having i. In a cigar and cigarette lighter, a casing means to normally lock saicl Wheel against forminga fuel containing reservoir, an ignitrotation. sairl releasing member also having a able element carried by saicl casing, a py'roclepressible head countersunk in saicl porphoric lllembfi" also carrierl by the casing, 2 tion of eaid supporting structure, and a friction Wheel rotatable relative to said (25- spring engageable with saicl head to retain 1o ing and contacting saiel pyrophoric member, the means of said reieasing member in loclo means to rotate wheel to province a in; position. spark from saitl. pyrophoric member to there- 8. In a cigar and cigarette lighter, a casby ignite saiel ignitable element, a releasing ing forming 2- fuel con'tainin a reservoir, an nicru'oer projecting through sairl wheel conignitable element mounteii in said casing, is

15 centric to axis of rotation and carrying pyrophorie member al o carried by saiti cas- So a locking pin eogageable with said wheel to adjacent saicl ignitable element a supretain the same in normal position, sairl re- 1 streets-re on saitl casing, ion lea ing rncnib ing inos'able from a normal Wheel mounterl for rotation in saicl structure ion lonei rally said axis clisengageable rh saio'l prrophoric naem- 'll(lfi'l1-l anti thereby inerpoeerl beeneen said Wheel. 8

lon toe lat i rob l a i l l ion of saici tpiv 2e and connected means: anti a spring en releasing reel. l the former, member to restore t .enaiingi through said pin to normal position heel anal; having returned to normal. c" wheel against roin ci anti cigar-re 'L forming a 1 able elem pho 3o friction Wheel ,in ancl cont means to rot iron], d py o one me nite. i

ber pro crane throu strnctare r a position. elatire to saitl casanal rette light-er, a casro'nhor' member, in forming; fuel co raining reservoir, an

spark ignirable element carriccl by said casing, a i yrophoric member also carriecl by the casing a releasing zner Wheel rota able relative to said wheel concentric contacting said pyrophoric mom 1% to ailis Or i locking oer m ans to rotate sai heel. produce a pin engageable ato retai the rorn eaicl pyropho member to therein normal pos rel :eleazing inein- UV aio; ignitable e3.enient a releasing normal position member projecting; through said Wheel cone ngituelinally saicl aifis disengage saici centric to its axis of rotation having;

in saicl wheel and thereby allow the locking means engageable with said Wheel to atte to be rotated by saitl rotating means. retain the same in normal position, said reb. in a cigar ancl cigarette lighter, a casing leasing member being movable from a normal forming a. fuel containing reservoir, an ignitposition to disengage saiol means from sain able element mount-eel in said casing, a pyro- Wheel and thereby allow the latter to be rono phoric member adjacent said ignitable elehated by saidi rotating means, anti. a, spring n1ent,a supporting structure on saizi casing, engaging said releasing member to restore a friction wheel mounted. for rotation in saiol the same and its locking means to normal postructure and engageable with saifi pyrosition when said Wheel is returnecl to normal.

5o phoric member, a spring interposed between 10. lln a cigar anti cigarette lighter, a casa said wheel ancl a portion of said structure ing forming a fuel containing reservoir, an and connected to saicl Wheel and casing to ignitable element carried by sairl casing, a

rotate the former, ancl a releasing member pyrophoric member also carried by saicl casextending through safi supporting structure ing, a friction Wheel rotatable relative to 55 and Wheel and having means to normally lock saiol casing and contacting said pyrophoric 1:3

said wheel against rotation. member, means to rotate said Wheel to pro- 7. in a cigar ancl cigarette lighter, a casing duce aspark from safi pyrophoric member forming a fuel containing reservoir, an ignitto'l'hereby ignite said ignitable element, an&

able element mounted in said casing, a pyroa releasing pin coextensive with the axisv c0 phoric member also carried by said casing of said wheel and, having means engageable 12a adjacent said ignitable element, a supporting therewith to prevent rotation thereof, said structure on said casing, a friction Wheel pin being movable laterally of the Wheel to mounted for rotation in said structure and disengage said means therefrom whereby said engagcable with said pyrophoric member, a, rotating means is permitted to function.

e5 spring interposefl between said wheel and a 11. lo a cigar anol cigarette lighter, a. cas r30 1ng, an ignitable element projecting from said casing, a friction wheel supported by said casing for rotation relative thereto, a

pyrophoric element also carried by the casing and engageable with the wheel for producing a spark to ignite said ignitable element when said wheel is rotated, means attached to said wheel and casing for rotatin the former, and

releasing means for the wheel including a movable member extending through the wheel concentric to the axis of rotation thereof and further including a locking pin engageable with said wheel to prevent its rotation, said movable member being actuated to disengage said locking pin from said wheel whereby to render active the rotating means.

12. In a cigar and cigarette lighter, an ignitable element, a pyrophoric member, a rotatable friction wheel engaging said pyrophoric member, a releasing member about which said wheel rotates as an axis and which has means to prevent rotation of said wheel, said releasing member having a longitudinal sliding movement to release said wheel, means to rotate said wheel upon release thereof, and

a cover for said ignitable element carried by said wheel.

13. In a cigar and cigarette lighter, an ignitable element, a pyrophorie member, a ro- 14. Ina cigar and cigarette lighter, an ignitable element, a pyrophoric member, a-rotatable friction wheel engaging said pyrophoric member and having a normal position, a releasing member about which said wheel rotates as an axis and having means engaging a portion of said wheel to lock it in normal position, said means being operated by said releasing member to release the wheel for rotation and being prevented, by engagement withanother portion of the wheel, from moving to its locking position until the wheel is again restored to normal, and means operable upon restoration of said wheel to move said locking means to its locking position.

In testimony whereof I have atlixed my signature.

RAYMOND sQ KNAPP. 

